Gordon is expected to maintain its hurricane status through Sunday. However, cooler water and stronger wind shear that lie in Gordon's path will force the storm to weaken later Sunday or Monday.

The demise of Gordon will then come in between the Azores and Portugal during the middle of next week, but Gordon will put a fight right to the end.

Sunday night into Monday morning (local time, late Sunday into Sunday night EDT), the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center expects Gordon to slam the Azores with potentially flooding rain and damaging winds. Parts of the Azores could experience several hours of sustained hurricane-force winds with much stronger gusts.

Odds currently favor the eastern half of these islands enduring the worst of Gordon's fury, and a hurricane warning is in effect for these islands.

The center of Gordon, after crossing the Azores, will likely fizzle before reaching mainland Europe. According to AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Andrew Mussoline, "the demise of Gordon prior to reaching mainland Europe will prevent any significant moisture from reaching Europe."